COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Damien Brunner, back in the Devils' lineup Tuesday night after missing one game with upper body soreness, said he isn't worried about getting hit in the same spot.

"No. I don't think so. I should be fine," Brunner said.

Brunner said he suffered the injury on a hit in Winnipeg and is improving daily.

"(It's) better than yesterday," he said.

Jacob Josefson will come out of the lineup if Brunner remains okay to play.

"That's the plan, as long as (Brunner) doesn't seize up between now and game time," coach Pete DeBoer said.

DeBoer said there would no no other changes, including Cory Schneider getting his second straight start in goal.

"It was a pretty simple decision. He pitched a shutout and it was our first win of the year," DeBoer explained. "Had the tables been flipped and it had been Marty (Brodeur) it would have been a natural decision, too. There wasn't a ton of thought put into it.

"Obviously it's a story because Marty's not playing. But in the hockey world and as far as decisions go, it's pretty much a no-brainer."

DeBoer spoke of the Blue Jackets.

"A hard-working team. I think if you come in here and underestimate their work ethic they can hurt you from the games I've watched them play," he said. "They're a little bit like us. They've spun their wheels a little but in some different areas, but they won their last game and it looks like they're turning the corner like us. It should be a good matchup."

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Patrik Elias (illness) did not accompany the team to Columbus, but is close to returning.

"I like some of the things he's given us," DeBoer said. "He gives us some speed. He gives us some energy. Defensively, and this is a common theme we've had, you have to be able to trust him defensively. I'm not a big stats guy. He's minus-3 in two games, a little bit of bad luck, but young guys coming into the lineup you have to be able to trust."